Table tennis paddle construction with improved handle means therefor

ABSTRACT

A table tennis paddle having a hand graspable portion, a ball striking portion and a connecting portion extending between and integrally interconnecting the former two portions in coplanar relation. The longitudinal and lateral axes of the ball striking portion are substantially coplanar and parallel with the longitudinal and lateral axes of the hand graspable portion respectively. A plurality of apertures are formed in the connecting portion for receiving the fingers of a player. The hand graspable portion has mounted thereon thickening members to be readily graspable within the player&#39;&#39;s palm.

O United States Patent [151 3,674,268

Shellman, Sr. 1 July 4, 1972 [54] TABLE TENNIS PADDLE 868,492 10/1907Schnopp ..9/307 CONSTRUCTION WITH IMPROVED 2,205,578 6/1940 Schnur N LMEANS THEREFOR 3,039,120 6/1962 Powell et a1 ..9/307 X [72] Inventor:Kenneth S. Shellman, Sr., 55 Kesling FOREIGN PATENTS OR CAT Ohm 249,0851/1964 Australia ..273/73 R [22] Filed: June 4, 1970 PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham [2]] Appl' 43386 Assistant ExaminerRichardJ. Apley Attorney-Melvin A. Crosby [52] US. CL ..273/76 51 rm. c1...A63b 59/04 1 1 ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..273/67 R, 67 B 73 R 73C, A table tennis paddle having a hand graspable portion, a ball 273/739/307 1334/5 272/67 striking portion and a connecting portion extendingbetween and integrally interconnecting the former two portions in [56]Rderences Cited coplanar relation. The longitudinal and lateral axes ofthe ball UNITED STATES PATENTS striking portion are substantiallycoplanar and parallel with the longitudinal and lateral axes of the handgraspable portion 2,396,106 3/ 1946 Kusznlrm 272/67 respectively. Aplurality of apertures are formed in the con- 3,497,214 2/ 1970 Kuszmr 1..272/67 necting portion for receiving the fingers of a player. The hand3,239,224 3/1966 273/67 B X graspable portion has mounted thereonthickening members D216,136 11/1969 Maddox 1 ..D34/5 to be readilygraspabk within the player's l 3,336,029 8/1967 London... 273/67 R1,982,448 11/1934 Nash ..273/73 F 1 Claim, 14 Drawing FiguresPATENTEDJUL 4 m2 3, 674, 2658 saw 1 or 2 INVENTOR. KENNETH S.5HELLMAN,SR.

BY WW PATENTEDJUM 1972 3, 674, 268 sum 2 or 2 INVENTCR. KENNETH S.SHELLMAN,SR

TABLE TENNIS PADDLE CONSTRUCTION WITH IMPROVED HANDLE MEANS THEREFORBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Presently known table tennis paddles of conventional design are normallyheld by the user, whereby, the longitudinal and lateral axes of thepaddle are substantially at right angles to the longitudinal and lateralaxes of the user's hand. This requires added wrist movement by the userto bring the paddle into proper orientation for executing the widevariety of forehand and backhand driving and chopping return strokesnormally encountered during the playing of the game. In addition, thisadded wrist movement to bring the paddle in proper orientation increasesthe time necessary to effect such return strokes and further becomesmore fatiguing during prolonged use of such paddle.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved table tennis paddleconstruction which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages and, inaddition, is lightweight, durable, inexpensive and readily mastered bynovices and seasoned player alike regardless of his former style ofplaying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to improvements in table tennis paddleconstructions and more particularly to improved handle means, whereby,the paddle when held in a normal playing manner provides a longitudinalextension to the hand of the user so that the longitudinal and lateralaxes of the paddle are substantially parallel and coplanar with thelongitudinal and lateral axes of the users hand, thereby, enabling theuser to effect a wide variety of forehand and backhand driving andchopping return strokes more quickly, during playing of such game, withless fatigue because no additional wrist movement is required other thanthat necessary to effect such return strokes.

In addition to the above, the present invention provides a table tennispaddle construction which is lightweight, durable, inexpensive and whichhas positive gripping means when held by the user in a relaxed manner,therefore, being further less fatiguing to the user during prolonged usethereof.

Other details and advantages of this invention will become more apparentas the following description of the exemplary embodiments thereofpresented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings showexemplary embodiments of this invention, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a table tennispaddle construction according to the present invention and illustratingthe manner in which the paddle is grasped by the user;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the assembled embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken essentially on line55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 3, of stillanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the assembled embodimentof FIG. 6;

.FIGS. 8 through 12 illustrate still further modifications of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the manner in whichthe present invention may be fonned of identical or matching halves andsubsequently secured together to form a completed paddle assembly; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the assembled halves ofthe embodiment of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a preferredembodiment of a table tennis paddle constructed according to the presentinvention. The paddle, generally indicated at 10, comprises body havinga a ball striking portion with a striking surface 12 of conventionaldesign which has suitable covering 14 on both sides thereof. The bodyalso comprises a hand graspable portion in the form of handle meansgenerally indicated at 16 and dependent from one side edge of the ballstriking portion. Handle means 16 comprises a lower member 18 contouredto fit-the hand of a user and an upper thinner member 20 integral withthe ball striking portion.

Upper member 20 is provided with a plurality of apertures 22 forreceiving the fingers of the user. Rubber-like grommet means 24 may beprovided within apertures 22 to provide frictional and cushioning meansfor the user's fingers. The users hand, indicated at 26, is shown inphantom in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 illustrates that the longitudinal axis28 and lateral axis 29 of the paddle 10 are substantially parallel tothe longitudinal axis 28 and lateral axis 29' of hand 26 at all timesduring use.

In FIG. 2, it will be seen that longitudinal axis 28 of the pad dleconstruction 10 is also substantially coplanar with the longitudinalaxis 28' of the users hand 26 when the paddle 10 is held in a normalplaying position.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 through 12 of the drawings wherein, ineach figure, a table tennis paddle construction of the present inventionis illustrated which is very similar in construction to the table tennispaddle 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2; therefore, each paddle of FIGS. 3 through 12will be designated generally by the reference numeral '10 followed by adifierent letter designation for each difierent figure and parts of thepaddle in each figure which are similar to corresponding parts of thepaddle 10 will be designated by the same reference numeral as in FIGS. 1and 2 followed by an associated letter designation. Only those parts ofeach paddle which are substantially different from. corresponding partsof the paddle 10 are designated by a new reference numeral also followedby a respective associated letter designation.

Thus, the paddles of FIGS. 3 through 12 will be designated by thereference numerals 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E, 10F and 10G respectively.Further, the paddles 10A-G may be used in substantially the same manneras previously described for paddle 10 ofFIGS. 1 and 2.

In general, it will be seen that each paddle l0A-G has ball strikingsurface means of substantially identical configuration with that ofpaddle 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 and is further provided with handle meanssimilar to paddle 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate at 10A an embodiment of a table tennis paddleconstruction of the present invention similar to that of FIG. 1, exceptin place of apertures 22 and grommets 24 of FIG. 1, an elongated hole21A is provided in upper member 20A of handle means 16A. Elongated hole21A is also provided with insert members 24A mounted therein to providefrictional and cushioning means for the fingers of the user. Insertmembers 24A may be constructed of medium soft plastic or rubber asdesired.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, insert member 24A has a peripheral flange30A and a plurality of apertures 22A similar to apertures 22 of FIG. 1.FIG. 5 shows the insert members 24A assembled in elongated hole 21A, forexample, adhesively, ultrasonically or by any other suitable means tosecure sur faces 32A of the insert members 24A to each other andsurfaces 34A of flanges 30A to upper handle member 20A of handle means16A to form a completed assembly.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate at 103 another embodiment of a table tennispaddle construction of the present invention similar to FIGS. 1 and 4,wherein, handle means 16B has a lower member 188 and an upper member208, wherein, upper member 208 is provided with a plurality of apertures22B therein. Cover members for upper member 20B,

generally indicated at 248, are provided with apertures 22B for matchingalignment with apertures 228 when cover members 24B are assembled withupper member 208 of handle portion 168. FIG. 7 illustrates cover members24B secured in assembled relation to upper member 208 of handle means16B, for example, as by adhesive, ultrasonic or any other suitable meansto secure surfaces 348 of flanges 308 to upper handle member 20B ofhandle means 16B to form the completed assembly.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate various modifications of a table tennis paddleconstruction of the present invention similar to paddle 10 of FIG. 1. InFIG. 8, paddle 10C is provided with three holes 22C in upper member C ofhandle means 16C. Holes 22C may be provided, if desired, with grommets24C. FIG. 9 illustrates a table tennis paddle construction at 10D havingtwo holes 22D in upper member 20D of handle means 16D. Holes 22D may beprovided with grommets 24D, if so desired. Extended ledges 40D on lowermember 18D of handle means 16D may be provided for resting the index andsmall finger of the users hand thereon, thus similating essentially themanner of holding paddle 10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 illustrates at 10E another modification of a table tennis paddleconstruction of the present invention similar in construction to that ofpaddle 10A of FIG. 3 wherein it is not desired to use insert memberssimilar to insert members 24A therewith. The main difference betweenpaddle 10A and paddle 10E is that the lower edge of elongated hole 21Eof handle means 16E of paddle 10B is substantially flush with the topedge of lower member 18E of handle means 16E, as indicated at 42E, whichprovides a curved surface for the fingers of the users hand torest'upon.

FIG. 11 illustrates at 10F another modification of a table tennis paddleconstruction of the present invention similar in construction to that ofpaddle 10E of FIG. 10. The main difference is that the upper edge ofhandle member 18F of handle means 16F is provided with contoured ridges44F arranged to fit between the fingers of the users hand to providepositive gripping means therefor.

FIG. 12 illustrates at 10G still another modification of a table tennispaddle construction of the present invention wherein, the maindifference is that the upper handle member 46G of handle means 16G iscomprised of a rod-like member secured by rivets 48G or any othersuitable means to the lower portion of the ball striking surface 120.The lower portion of rod-like member 46G is suitable secured to handlemember 18G of handle means 16G as indicated at 49G.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a plastic table tennis paddle construction ofthe present invention comprised of molded duplicate halves, generallyindicated at 50, having strengthening ribs 52, peripheral rim edges 54and apertures 56 integral with handle means 58. The inside surfaces ofthe molded halves 50 are secured together along rim edge 54 andstrengthening ribs 52 adhesively, ultrasonically or by any othersuitable means to form a completed paddle assembly which is strong,durable, lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture.

FIG. 14 shows a fragmentary portion of the paddle halves 50 of FIG. 13in assembled relation to highlight the aforementioned features ofconstruction comprising the completed assembly. Covering 60 may beapplied after molding of paddle halves 50 or after assembly thereof.

Modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A table tennis paddle comprising a flat body of substantially uniformthickness throughout and having a hand graspable portion and a ballstriking portion and a connecting portion extending between andintegrally interconnecting said ball striking portion and hand graspableportion in coplanar relation, said body having fiat parallel front andback faces, said hand graspable portion comprising a bar-like partadapted to rest in the palm of the hand and extending transversely tothe longitudinal central axis of said ball striking portion, roundapertures formed in said connecting portion for receiving fingers of thehand, rubber-like cylindrical grommets in said apertures having flangesoverlying said front and back faces at the peripheries of saidapertures, the longitudinal axis of said bar-like part being parallel tothe transverse axis of said ball striking portion, and the longitudinalcentral axis of said ball striking portion being coplanar with thelongitudinal axis of said bar-like part and substantially bisecting thelength of said bar-like part, layers of friction material on the saidfront and back faces of said ball striking portion, and members mountedon said front and back faces of said barlike part to make said bar-likepart thicker than said connecting portion.

1. A table tennis paddle comprising a flat body of substantially uniformthickness throughout and having a hand graspable portion and a ballstriking portion and a connecting portion extending between andintegrally interconnecting said ball striking portion and hand graspableportion in coplanar relation, said body having flat parallel front andback faces, said hand graspable portion comprising a bar-like partadapted to rest in the palm of the hand and extending transversely tothe longitudinal central axis of said ball striking portion, roundapertures formed in said connecting portion for receiving fingers of thehand, rubber-like cylindrical grommets in said apertures having flangesoverlying said front and back faces at the peripheries of saidapertures, the longitudinal axis of said bar-like part being parallel tothe transverse axis of said ball striking portion, and the longitudinalcentral axis of said ball striking portion being coplanar with thelongitudinal axis of said bar-like part and substantially bisecting thelength of said bar-like part, layers of friction material on the saidfront and back faces of said ball striking portion, and members mountedon said front and back faces of said bar-like part to make said bar-likepart thicker than said connecting portion.